Catholic Social Teaching Perspectives

Announcing the Year of Faith in his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict XVI stated: ‘The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime…’

The Year of Faith, which begins on 11 October, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is an important opportunity to deepen our faith through the study of some of the core texts that have shaped and guided that faith, reflecting on their relevance for the challenges that confront us as Christians today.

Foremost amongst those challenges is the need to adopt new approaches to the transmission and promotion of our faith in an increasingly secular society and during the month of October the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will reflect on the theme: “The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”.

All these events are of great significance to Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Episcopal Conference, tasked in a particular way with the promotion of the Church’s Social Teaching. They provide an opportunity to build on the very positive and enriching experience of the recent Eucharistic Congress and continue on the ‘journey’, in the words of Pope Benedict, by reflecting on the meaning and place of Church teaching in our daily lives.

As part of our contribution to this process, Council members have produced a series of short videos which examine the relevance of Catholic Social Teaching to some of the most pressing social issues facing Irish society today. We hope that the videos will provide a useful starting point for reflection for reflections on Catholic Social Teaching. We would appreciate any feedback or information about initiatives taking place in parishes and dioceses for the Year of Faith. Further resources will be available later in the year on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

This is a new series of videos from the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference entitled Catholic Social Teaching Perspectives. These videos look at some of the questions of social justice and Catholic social teaching.

Professor John Monaghan on Poverty

In this video Professor John Monaghan looks at what Catholic social teaching says about poverty.

Mr David Begg on Work

In this video Mr David Begg looks at what Catholic social teaching says about work.

Fr Gerry O’Hanlon on the Economic Crisis

In this video Fr Gerry O’Hanlon looks at Catholic social teaching and how it speaks to the current economic crisis.

Mr Justin Kilcullen on Global Solidarity

In this video Mr Justin Kilcullen looks at what Catholic social teaching says about global solidarity.

Dr Michael Ryan on Education

In this video Dr Michael Ryan looks at what Catholic social teaching says about education.

Dr Mary Shanahan on Young People

In this video Dr Mary Shanahan reflects on Catholic social teaching and how it speaks to young people.

These videos were produced by the Catholic Communications Office for the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference to mark the Year of Faith 2012-2013.